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It’s Never too Late to Celebrate Summer with this Blackberry Mint Mocktail

Did you know that there are over 20 varieties of mint? From the pungent bite of peppermint to the bright notes of pineapple mint, there are hundreds of ways to enjoy this aromatic favorite which was known in Ancient Greece as the “herb of hospitality.” Read on for a tasty mocktail recipe that will help you enjoy the last days of summer!

Visitors and friends learned all about mint’s growth and myriad culinary uses at a Communal Garden: Growing Mint class held at the Conservatory earlier this month. Sean McKay, the Conservatory’s Growing to Green Coordinator, led gardeners on a hands-on tasting tour through the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus. Participants got to touch, taste and smell the different varieties of mint–including orange mint, strawberry mint, and even chocolate mint! 

Each gardener was encouraged to write notes on the flavor profiles of the varietals so that after the lecture they could take home three of their favorite plants and get them started in their own beds or containers. With this newly-minted knowledge, gardeners were well on their way to creating abundant gardens! And as mint-growers know, abundance is easy to achieve when it comes to mint. Planted in shade or sun and given plenty of water, these fast-growing friends extend their reach along surfaces through a network of runners. Due to their speedy growth, a single plant can easily provide more than enough mint for home use.

This fun and interactive class was part of a free class series that the Conservatory continues to offer in an effort to advance accessible and sustainable gardening skills in our community. The series has also featured a course on fall planting for spring blooms, and future classes will continue to offer a cheap and fun way to build your repertoire of gardening skills. Visit our Class Calendar and look for Communal Garden classes to see what’s next in this series! 

Ready to get minty? Grab a cocktail shaker and make this tasty drink that’ll impress your friends at your next gathering. Whether you use mint grown in your backyard or picked up at the store, we invite you to try this refreshing drink in celebration of summer and another wonderful year of community gardening! 

Honey Blackberry Mint Mocktails

In a cocktail shaker, muddle together: 

Cover, shake to mix and strain into two glasses over ice. Top each glass with 1 cup of seltzer, garnish with additional mint and blackberries.

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